Draft One (Deleted and put on Project 1)

Luke Sanoba

Maddie Kahl

ENC 2135 Research Paper

Jan-Feb, 2018

Clubbing @ FSU

Creating a club might seem difficult, but clubs and student organizations are seen as a very good avenue to friendships, possible careers, and doing something you truly love. But you may be thinking to yourself, “Is it hard to make a club? Am I a leader?” Well, if you have even the slightest thought of making a club, you should seize the opportunity you currently have. Clubs offer students a release from mundane academic schoolwork. But, is it worth all the time and effort it takes to create a club, establish a student body, and run the club? This begs the question, what does it take to create and manage a club?

Well, first off, you must look at how you are going to create a club. This all begins with an idea and a little research. The club you choose to make must not be a club that is already been created. This means that generic ideas, such as a soccer club, or a tennis club most likely already have been created and aren’t feasible options. Blogger, Katherine Carpenter, says the next step you should look into taking is going around campus, gathering students opinions on the club and whether or not they’d find it interesting and be willing to join. She suggests, “The best way to get a variety of answers and to reach a multitude of students is sharing via social media.” I believe this is true, especially considering technology and social media is so prevalent in today’s society. This will help you advertise your club to people all over campus and get your message out to the masses.

Finding a sponsor is seen as the next big step in forming a club, because without a sponsor, a club isn’t possible. Carpenter suggests finding a, “faculty member you know shares the same interest,” which will, in turn, increase their willingness to sponsor the club, help find financial backers, and also increase attendance and willingness to participate in club meetings and functions. Having a mission statement and an information club is next up on the things to do. A mission statement is crucial, as this outlines what your club will be about and tells potential new members what to expect from the club before they enter the club. Some great characteristics of a mission statement include, “values, an actionable goal, and what separates you” (Arthur, Pg. 1/1). An information hub is one that can be provided online, on a club website and club social media pages. Jessica Albright recommends using Facebook and also states, “utilize your hub/Facebook page to post pictures of meetings and events, it’s like self-made publicity. This way, prospective members can see what you’re all about.” Showing what the club you have created is all about is the best way to find potential students looking to join, as they will look for a club that they are interested in.

After you have laid out all of the basics, you need to get the club recognized by the university you attend. To get this next step done you must talk to university officials. You should treat this like a job interview and Carpenter suggests to, “Dress professionally, and make sure you have some idea of what questions will be asked.” It is always good to be prepared to answer potential questions, as this will help you stay calm during this nerve-racking experience. After the club has been recognized, you must focus on the executive board in your club. Being a lone-wolf and trying to lead the club by yourself is a daunting task to take on, so why not make it easier and have elected officials help run the club? Albright suggests you, ”have the general body vote, but YOU have the final say,” in who you choose for these elected spots. This should be the case, as you run the club and should make these decisions based on merit and how qualified a person is for this position. Potential elected positions can include vice president, secretary, treasurer, chaplain, etc. Lastly, going back to your social media and online presence, you must advertise your club. Get members to post about the club and share posts about the club. Some more great ways of advertising around campus are sidewalk art for the club you are advertising for, posters for the club, or even signs posted in dorms/common areas people will go around campus.